Want to steer clear of risky credit decisions?

Want to make construction project credit decisions with little to no risk?

Want to cut your client research time from hours down to just a few minutes?

Want to rest assured that you’re making the best credit decisions for your company?

Read on, and we’ll prove to you how we can help you save valuable time and money by combining all the different information sources in one place. Ansonia is the best choice for getting the premium credit decision information in the fastest way possible.

Make Your Credit Decisions Easily, Confidently and Quickly

Why waste hours researching when you can have everything you need in mere minutes?

You’re a busy person. We know you’re concerned about making the best credit decisions you can, trying to collect all the information you need to make an informed assessment on whether or not to extend credit to a construction project. You need to know the amount of risk associated with any construction project before you can make your final decision.

Finally, there is a unique solution that will help you make your decisions easily, confidently, and quickly.

Get Everything You Need In One Convenient Place – Ansonia’s Construction Credit Report

Do you realize you now have access to the most select construction credit data on the market that will save you a lot of time and money? Using this new tool will give you complete confidence in making 100% informed decisions when it comes to assessing the risk associated with any construction project.

Our famous Business Credit Report combined with all the important Project Information you need – all in one place:

Title Data

Notice of Completion

Public Record Data

Active Trade Lines, Credit Analysis & Scores

Links to State Contractor Information

Mechanic Lien/Release/Discharge

Notice of Lis Pendens Action/Discharge

Bankruptcy, Tax Liens and Judgments

Collection Agency Activity

You won’t find all this title and credit information in any one report anywhere — except Ansonia!

If you’re still wasting time going to several places to collect this disjointed information:

Take some time now to discover for yourself how Ansonia’s Construction Report is not only the most up-to-date credit report available, but the most in-depth title report, too - something you’ve never seen before in today’s credit environment.

Here’s How Ansonia’s Construction Report Is The Best One On The Market Today.

As I’m sure you’re well aware, most of the credit reporting systems out there give you data that is anywhere from 60 to 90 days old. What would happen if you gave a construction project funding, only to find out a little too late that they’re already starting to have financial problems on their other projects? Now your job and reputation is on the line.

Ansonia’s Construction Report can save you from those embarrassing situations.

What Makes Ansonia's Construction Report So Unique And Powerful?

What if you had an almost unlimited database of information immediately available detailing what financial shape your client is in right now, not 60 or 90 days in the past? Don’t you think that will help you make better decisions for that project?

Think how much easier your life will be when you can just push one button and instantly get the exact, up-to-date information you need.

What Makes Ansonia's Construction Report So Unique And Powerful?

What if you had an almost unlimited database of information immediately available on what financial shape your client is in right now, not 60 or 90 days in the past? Don’t you think that will help you make better decisions for that project?

Think how much easier your life will be when you can just push one button and instantly get the exact, up-to-date information you need?

Unheard Of

The data contained within the report helps material suppliers, general contractors and project lenders perform due diligence on their customer as well as the projects they will be supplying materials, labor or financing for.

The ability to confirm that a contractor is licensed to execute the work they're going to do, pays their bills on time, is free of liens, judgements and the like all in one report is previously unheard of in my 35 years in business credit. This report will help you determine the maximum dollar value your company should risk for any project that your customer is bidding on or that you plan to supply materials for.”

There is no one-size-fits-all here. We understand your business needs specific information to make good decisions.

We have created an easy control panel for you to use. Through the panel, you can configure your own preferences and easily set your ratings, days to pay, and much more.

For example, some of our clients are most concerned with how their customer has paid his bills over the past 6 months. You can quickly configure the ratings to calculate for that specific time period.

Other customers look at 24 month averages. Easily customize reports to see just the information you need.

Compare this to other business credit reporting companies who impose a single, static credit report that cannot be customized. You have to hunt and dig to get the information you need. And there is no guarantee you're going to find it.

Ansonia’s revolutionary and intuitive control panel allows anyone on your team to customize the report they need. Now you can close more sales that are smart bets for your company.

There is no one-size-fits-all here. We understand your business needs specific information to make good decisions.

We have created an easy control panel for you to use. Through the panel, you can configure your own preferences and easily set your ratings, days to pay, and much more.

For example, some of our clients are most concerned with how their customer has paid his bills over the past 6 months. You can quickly configure the ratings to calculate for that specific time period.

Other customers look at 24 month averages. Easily customize reports to see just the information you need.

Compare this to other business credit reporting companies who impose a single, static credit report that cannot be customized. You have to hunt and dig to get the information you need. And there is no guarantee you're going to find it.

Ansonia’s revolutionary and intuitive control panel allows anyone on your team to customize the report they need. Now you can close more sales that are smart bets for your company.

Watch the video below to see how your report would work.

Ansonia's construction credit report is the only one that gives you all these superior benefits:

Ansonia has a Large Network

Ansonia’s Construction Credit Reports benefit from the entire Ansonia community participating in the system, anonymously. It’s effectively like having thousands of businesses out there on the lookout for negative trends for your clients. Knowledge is power. The sooner you know there’s a problem, the sooner you can react.

Reports are Easy to Use

Ansonia’s Construction Reports are so simple and easy-to-use, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without them.

Reports are Easy to Use

Ansonia’s Construction Reports are so simple and easy-to-use, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without them.

Reports are Easy to Read

It’s often difficult to know if a customer is a good or a bad customer with other credit data companies’ reports. With Ansonia’s Construction Reports, you’ll always be confident knowing that you made the best decision.

Reports are Customizable

Customizable reports lead to better credit decisions. You can configure your own preferences. You’re in complete control.

Reports are Customizable

Customizable reports lead to better credit decisions. You can configure your own preferences. You’re in complete control.

See the difference. Try our free credit report today.

Nothing Else Like It

The report gives someone in the construction industry all of the data they need to know about the amount of risk associated with a construction project in one place. There’s nothing else like it on the market to my knowledge. In the more than 30 years of experience that CMA has in the Construction Forms Filing business, our customers have asked us for this type of report, but we previously didn’t have the technology to allow us to provide it.

With the help of our partners, we believe the report will save our customers countless hours searching for this type of data in multiple places, some of which is exclusive to this report. The information gained from the report can potentially save our customers tens of thousands of dollars by helping them avoid over-extending credit to risky companies.”

—Mike Mitchell, CEO

Credit Management Association

Here, finally, is a great tool for keeping your business running smoothly.

We know you only want the best information. Now you can get the most complete, timely evidence you need to make the best credit decisions for your business.

Can you see how Ansonia’s Construction Credit Report can help you run your business better? We’ve been quietly helping thousands of businesses achieve phenomenal results since 2006. We can give your company new insights into making better-informed decisions.

Great! Let's Get Started.
Subscribe Now and Get the Peace of Mind You Deserve.

Construction Industry Business Credit Companies Articles

11 Accounts Receivable Management Best Practices

If you are extending payment terms to customers, sound accounts receivable management is crucial to preserve your cash flow and protect the bottom line.Here are some basic accounts receivable management best practices that you should consider implementing.

11 Accounts Receivable Management Best Practices

1. Establish a Credit Policy

Before offering payment terms, you need to define a clear credit policy that allows you to determine your risk when extending credit to a new customer.Always review the business credit report of a potential client , and make sure that your evaluation is based on up-to-date, high quality data.

2. Bill Electronically

You can avoid long delivery times and potential delays with the postal service by using an electronic data interchange (EDI), e-invoicing, email or even fax to deliver invoices.

Once you switch over to electronic billing, consider shortening your payment terms from net 45 or net 30 to payment due on receipt.

3. Send out Invoices Promptly

Instead of transmitting all your invoices on a weekly or monthly batch, make sending them out as they are generated a priority.

4. Offer Alternative Payment Methods

Giving customers flexible payment options such as electronic funds transfer (EFT), PayPal and credit cards can help you convert receivables into cash faster.An EFT allows customers to deposit their payments directly into your company bank account -- all they need is your bank name, branch and account number, which can be included on your invoices.

5. Use Accounts Receivable Management Tools

Using customizable accounts receivable management tools give you an easy and efficient way to streamline the entire credit approval through the collection process.

Set up an A/R aging report and review it at least weekly so you can track accounts as they become delinquent. Be sure to follow up with customers who do not pay invoices within the terms they have agreed to.

Every day that an invoice is overdue has a negative impact on your cash flow.

7. Pick up the Phone

Having a conversation with a customer can encourage an on-time payment or help you learn why an overdue invoice has not been taken care of.You should call to verify receipt of an invoice 15 days after it goes out. If a payment is not made within a reasonable period, follow up with another phone call. Speaking directly with a customer is usually more effective than sending emails or collection letters, and that personal touch can help maintain your business relationship.

8. Keep Collection Records

Maintain detailed records of the collection attempts you make for each past-due account.Include phone calls made, emails and collection letters sent, and take notes on the their responses for future reference.

9. Offer Early Payment Discounts

The standard early payment discount offered by many companies is 2/10, net 30, which gives customers 2 percent off an invoice that is paid within 10 days, or the total is due in 30 days. Instead, try 2/10, net 20 as more of an incentive.Do not let late payers take advantage by not enforcing the discount period.

10. Consider Factoring

Using a factoring company is an option that can improve your cash flow, and eliminate the cost and hassle of dealing with receivables.A factor will pay you a discounted amount for your outstanding invoices and then take over collections. Depending on your situation, the benefits may outweigh the percentage taken off the top.

11. Contact a Collection Agency

If you have overdue accounts that are impossible to collect, your last viable option may be turning them over to a collection agency (be sure it is your last option).You will only receive a fractional value of the receivable if the agency is able to collect, but it is a better alternative than writing off bad debt.

In Conclusion

Extending payment terms to customers can help your business grow but can also open you up to credit risk

Use these accounts receivable management best practices to better protect yourself and your bottom line.

Receivable Portfolio Management Analysis

The only way to successfully manage any process is by controlling and measuring that process. When it comes to managing the credit process, the credit executive of today must analyze the entire receivables portfolio, which is well beyond traditional customer analysis. This stands true for both the management of the accounts receivable portfolio as well as the production of any goods or services.

Today we still see many firms focusing solely on the number of customers they serve, and while this is certainly an important aspect of operations planning, they are not giving enough attention to the risk and profitability associated with each group of their customers.

Measuring the Most Important Asset of a Company

We can measure the performance of the most important asset (its customers) of a company along several dimensions by simply applying the concept of Portfolio Analysis to the accounts receivable of a company.

We know that photographers and such will often prepare a portfolio of their work to show to prospective employers or purchasers. This term, portfolio, can also be used to describe loans advanced by a bank or the collection of financial instruments held by an investor. When referring to financial services, the challenge with Receivables Portfolio Analysis is to categorize the mix of investments appropriate to the resources of the company, needs, and risk preference. The contents of this portfolio should alter over time, in direct response to changes in customer preferences or the performance of individual portfolio elements.

Using Accounts Receivable Portfolio Analysis to Understand the Risk Exposure of a Company

At any point in time a credit professional will be able to understand the exposure to risk of the company by using Receivable Portfolio Analysis in order to analyze the accounts receivable. This analysis helps determine what types of customers the company should be seeking to serve, and which business segments are the best fit for both the capabilities and the mission of the organization. When determining which markets the company should serve, this service provides invaluable information that can be used for that organization.

Receivable Portfolio Analysis is simply a great planning system: it provides information that can be used when making strategic business decisions, helping to both minimize bad debt and maximize long-term earnings growth. Besides encouraging the management of the firm to appraise their business along many dimensions on an aggregate basis, while management is planning for growth, it specifically raises the issue of cash flow implications. Portfolio Analysis offers management the proper tools for evaluating each business segment in the context of both its unique contribution to the goals of the company as a whole, and its environment.

Evaluating the Potential Value of Your Customers to Your Business

Receivable Portfolio Analysis addresses the very important issue of the potential value of a particular customer to a company. There are two variables to this value: the first variable is the potential for generating attractive earnings levels right now, and the second variable is the potential for growth in the future; meaning significantly increased earnings levels.

The management of any organization needs to understand their current set of customers, and how promising they are with respect to long-term return - in addition to understanding which customers should be developed and which should be liquidated. Using the approach of Portfolio Analysis, management can simultaneously compare different customers, thus leading to a targeted marketing focus. The importance of risk management and cash flow as strategic variables are also underlined.

One of the primary responsibilities of a credit executive is to control the credit risk of an accounts receivable asset. The process of risk management is to judge individual firms and assess both the opportunity and the risk associated with those firms: it also includes the establishment of credit lines and terms, and carefully monitoring customer relationships for the mutual benefit of both the organization and the customer.

Determining the risk preference of a firm means working out how much risk it is prepared to take when granting credit to its customers. Classifying customers on a multilevel scale offers a comprehensive approach to risk management: excellent customers are placed at one end of the spectrum, with marginal customers at the other end. The marginal customers of a firm would be placed under review more frequently than customers considered to be excellent or good accounts; which means that more emphasis would be placed on those accounts that require attention. These one-at-a-time evaluations are known as transaction-level decisions.

The credit manager is also responsible for establishing the collections and credit policies of the firm: these will be general courses of action developed for recurring situations. Their aim will be to achieve established objectives within the credit function, with these rules being applied across a broad group of customers. Establishing and defining effective collection and credit policies are considered to be portfolio-level decisions; decisions that involve taking a step back to look at the whole situation, not just the daily examination of individual customers.

The Disadvantages of Not Having an Established Credit PolicyWhen a firm has no established credit policy it means that each and every credit decision stands alone and that each person within the firm who is responsible for credit decision-making will be operating in isolation. With no established protocol, there is no way of learning from the collective experience of a group or the acquired judgment of the most experienced members of the credit team . Alternatively, a well implemented and consistent policy ensures that the same errors are not repeated over and over again and that valuable resources are not wasted on decisions that could well be quickly made on the basis of documented experience.

Having a well thought-out policy allows a firm to systematize and apply its principles. And, over time, refining the credit policy allows for the firm to adapt to changing markets and conditions. The collection policies of the firm also need to evolve, and these will be based on the changes in the composition of active customers and their payment performance. All successful credit professionals understand that both these decisions are made in tandem and that over time they reinforce each other

The Duties of a Credit ManagerFor a Credit Manager to be effective at managing the risk and opportunity of the customer base of a firm , it is very important that both are done well. One could compare these tasks to those of the General Manager of a business who is required to make both strategic and tactical decisions - both of these decisions are equally important and, in order to be reductive, they must work together. However, the focus of many credit professionals is heavily weighted towards the day-to-day transaction-level decisions, leaving the development of important skills and resources required to improve portfolio decisions to an unsatisfactorily low priority.

""If you want something new you have to stop doing something old."" Peter F. Drucker

Access to fresh, current data is vital for effective credit management in any industry. Without accurate information, it is difficult or almost impossible to vet new clients, perform periodic reviews, track changes in payment habits, identify problem debtors or make credit increase decisions. If you are looking for an affordable alternative for managing the risk for your company, cash flow and payment practices, perhaps it is time to heed the wisdom of the man who invented the concept of management.

Old Versus New: What are the Tangible Differences Between the Two Approaches?

When it comes to your credit intelligence strategy, think about what you need to glean from their credit report in order to streamline your decision making: timely, accurate data about how they pay their bills. If a customer is not making payments on time, it does not matter whether they are a well-known, publicly traded company that appears financially sound, with an active online presence and an Ivy League-educated CEO. With the necessity of obtaining recent, pertinent data in mind, let us do a point-by-point comparison of the key differences between old-school business credit reports, and what the new approach of Ansonia offers:

Content - Traditional business credit reports provide a snapshot of a company, with a sprinkling of payment history added to the mix that may or may not be up to date and industry specific. The new approach gives you a finely-tuned credit report with a primary focus on the accurate, current bill payment data of the customer. Our credit monitoring tools give you a more granular view of the payment habits of a customer, which is the essence of what you want and need.

Relevance - If it is outdated, vague and/or incomplete, what is contained in an old-school credit report simply is not relevant. Our new approach to credit reporting gives you real-time data that not only lets you identify payment trends, it allows you to drill down to specific contributor levels within an industry. There is no fluff or filler -- you access data that is fresh and verified continuously, 24/7, so you have the essential information that is critical for making smart credit decisions.

Convenience - Lengthy, old-style business credit reports require considerable sifting and mining to reach any nuggets of usable intelligence. Our credit reporting tools rely on the latest advanced technology, and because they are automated, you will have complete AR monitoring without ever pulling out the spreadsheets. The data is concisely formatted and easily customizable so you can see as much or as little detail as you want and access instantaneous updates on relevant events.

Value - The way to determine the true value of what you are paying for credit intelligence is to look at the percentage of the data you actually utilize in your decision making. It is not difficult to see the difference in value between a cumbersome credit report that does not include a wealth of real-time, relevant data and one that lets you easily identify risks by tracking current customer payment trends over different industries, contributors and time periods.

Cost - Most providers expect you to sign a long-term, ""unlimited"" contract that can cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars. With our approach, there are no setup or annual fees, and you are not locked into a contract. By only paying for the services you need, you can reduce the related costs by 50 to 90 percent. If you factor in the quality of the data and the knowledgeable, expert service you will receive, the value of those savings quickly multiplies.

Customized reports for the Construction Industry with unique information
that other business credit reporting companies do not have.

Ansonia Credit Data and ConstructionCreditReport.us

How To Check Company Credit History

Business Credit Score: What It Means to Your Business

Every business has both a Business Credit Score and a Business Credit Report. A good (high) business credit score is key to having your company approved for financing and trade credit. Your Business Credit Score ranks the creditworthiness of your business, just the same as your personal score acts as a financial rating.

How Are Business Credit Scores Determined?

Business credit scores are determined by reporting agencies, such as Ansonia Credit Data, with several factors going into the calculation of these figures. Various traits about your company and its financial history determine how credit scores are calculated for your business. Please see below for some factors that may determine your business credit score.

Some of the above factors are unique to Business Credit Scores while many are similar to the ones used for calculating your personal credit score.

How Are Business Credit Scores Used?

Before a lender or other creditor can approve your business for finance they need to determine how capable your business is of repaying its debts, and this is where your business credit score comes in. If your business has a high Credit Score it indicates to creditors that your business is trustworthy; that it is not a high risk for finance. Lenders will use the business credit report of your company to obtain detailed information about the financial history of your business; with your Business Credit Score serving as a quick-check evaluation.

In addition, a high business credit score may give you access to more credit than you would be able to receive if applying for finance with only your personal credit score.

It is Important to Check Your Business Credit Score

All business owners should review the financial information of their company on a regular basis, and this includes their business credit score. These scores are fluid and can change with time. It is for this reason that creditors will assess your creditworthiness on a regular basis. If you should notice that your business credit score is low, there could well be an error in the credit reports which resulted in an inaccurate calculation. It might also be that your business does not warrant a higher score because it does not have sufficient credit history.

However, if you believe there is an error in your Business Credit Score it is imperative that you contact the credit agency that generated the score in order to have this score checked, and corrected if necessary. If no error has occurred, it is still possible to increase your business credit score over a period of time by making payments on time and lowering the credit utilization ratio for your company .

Regardless of whether you are just starting out in business or you have been in the game for many years, an essential aspect of staying competitive in business is to build a strong credit profile.

Improving Your Business Credit Score

It can be confusing trying to determine how and when business credit scores are used; however, it is actually very simple to keep your score high. Basically, it is the same as taking care of your personal credit.

Make sure your business bills are paid either on time or before their due date;Maintain your credit utilization at around 25%. It is important that you do not max out your credit lines; andOpen multiple credit accounts; such as trade lines, business credit cards, and loans.

About Business Credit Reports

You are probably aware that you can check your financial history by viewing your personal credit report. Well, the same information can be reviewed for your business, and that is because credit bureaus scour public records and other financial data in order to develop a credit report on your company the moment you start a business. So, when you receive trade credit (also known as a business loan or line of credit), information about your payment history is compiled and turned into a business credit score by a company such as Ansonia Credit Data. Ansonia Credit Data is a premier business credit reporting provider.

One of the most important aspects of being a small business owner is to take the appropriate steps to build your business credit profile. Doing this will assist in creating strong business relationships and open up financial opportunities that will make running and growing your business so much easier.

How To Check Credit Score For Business

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Checking a Credit Report for a Company

It is via a Business Credit Report that a person or company is able to evaluate the credit worthiness of potential suppliers, a competitor, or even its customers. A business will often run a Business Credit Report on itself to determine how its financial stability is being presented to the larger business community. We strongly advise that any business entering into a relationship with a new company should run a Business Credit Report, because this which will assist in determining the degree of risk involved in the proposed business relationship.

Reading a Business Credit Report

It is highly recommended that a company run a business credit report if it is considering evaluating the reliability of potential suppliers, granting credit to new customers, or even analyzing the credit standing of their own company . Typically, a business credit report will provide a snapshot of the credit history of a company, including how reliable it is in paying its bills and managing other financial obligations. Running a business credit report on a company can help you reduce risk by identifying potential warning signs of credit problems of your customers . It will also help you determine whether your own company is a positive credit prospect for its suppliers.

A business credit report will ideally include a review of the following aspects of a business.

Credit Risk Rating

The majority of business credit reports include a rating system which has been designed to assist in gauging the potential risk of either late or delinquent payments. These ratings are determined through an analysis of different credit factors, like legal filings and past payments performance; plus, they are ideal for when you are required to make a quick credit decision. Any high risk rating should be taken very seriously.

Payment History

It is important that you analyze past payments to determine how efficient a company is in managing its accounts. Look for trends as well as timely payments. As an example: you may notice that a prospect previously made minimum credit card payments; however, they are now paying the balance in full each month. This could well indicate that the company has become a better credit risk, meaning that they have developed a stable revenue stream. In addition, you should check to see how the payment history of a specific business compares to other businesses in the same field. The information you gain here will confirm whether Are the payment patterns of the business in line with industry norms.

Of course, this also applies to your own business credit report: when reviewing your own report, check for similar trends that your suppliers may notice.Company Background and Information

A business credit report should include certain information, such as the name, address, and contact information of the company. It might also include information on its business type, such as the number of employees, industry by NAICS or SIC code, the status of incorporation, sales figures, and key officers. Conduct a careful review of this information to ensure that it is consistent with the records held by your company. If this information should not be consistent, be sure to advise the company concerned and request an explanation.

A Word of Caution: Fictitious company names hide the true ownership of a business, so be alert for this kind of detail: it could well be an indication that the company concerned is attempting to conceal information.

Legal Issues

A business credit report can help you identify new clients who may turn out to be credit risks, or suppliers who may not be reliable, by disclosing legal issues regarding outstanding lawsuits, bankruptcy filings, court judgements and liens. It is true that many companies have at one time or another faced some type of legal proceeding or lawsuit, so it may not necessarily be important that they have a pending lawsuit. However, companies that have experienced bankruptcy proceedings or have liens placed against them should be assessed very seriously.

Collection Proceedings

Does the company in question have a known history of having accounts sent out for collection or of letting its bills lapse? Question continuous late payments, because they may be the result of disputes over goods and/or services, merchandise or other non-financial issues.

The Age of a Company

How long has the company in question been in business? Typically, a company that has been operating for many years will be more financially savvy and adept at managing their finances than a young company. A young company could well be a very good credit risk, but their creditworthiness should be researched further. One way of doing this is to check the personal credit reports of the leaders for the company, which should offer insight into how diligent they are about handling accounts.

Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) Filings

Checking a UCC filings of the company will offer an insight into the leases and liens it has in place. Reviewing this section of the business credit report can offer clues on how credit is used by a company. Let us say this specific company has a high number of trade credit relationships with other businesses, or it has a number of assets being held as collateral on existing loans: this could well mean that the business is financially overextended.

Do your research and take all of these factors into account before making the decision to add your own name to the list of creditors of the company.

How To Do Credit Check For Business

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Why You Should Use a Business Credit Report Service

It is irrelevant whether you are just starting out in business, or you own a small business, or perhaps you manage a large business that has been around for many years. In all of these circumstances a business credit report can help you grow your business. A business credit report is crucial when it comes to making financial decisions and ultimately running a financially successful enterprise. In fact, a business credit report is just as important as a personal credit report and, similar to a personal credit report, it can make or break your business.

A loan is usually necessary for the growth and development of any business and, for those just starting out in business, borrowing money is vital for the business to function from one day to the next - that is, until the business begins to show a profit. Whether you are approved for a loan could well be determined by the information listed on your business credit report. You will be eligible to receive better loan terms and rates if your business credit is good, so being aware of this and staying on top of your business credit report can be key to the survival of your business .

We have conducted a review of the best business credit report services to assist businesses in choosing a company that is capable of providing them with not only a business credit report but additional business credit services as well. In our opinion, Ansonia Credit Data is a top-quality business credit report company.

What to Look for in a Business Credit Report

Your Business Credit Score is determined the same way as your personal credit score. Your financial information, which includes information from lenders and suppliers, background information and legal filings, all help determine your business credit score. Your personal credit score contains information very similar to a Business Credit Score, however, this information is reported differently: a personal credit score is reported on a scale from 300 to 850; whereas a Business Credit Score is reported from 0 to 100.

Generally, business credit report companies do much the same thing: they provide you with a business credit report which enables you to make informed financial decisions regarding your business. In addition, these companies also provide other business credit services, and the following criteria were taken into consideration when reviewing these business credit report companies -

Business Credit Report Content

The content contained within the business credit report is crucial when it comes to understanding what is affecting your credit score and your overall credit caliber. You should expect your business credit report to detail as much information as possible about the credit of your company. For example, the history and relevant information concerning your company should be included, together with the risk score. Also included should be risk factors, payment information, financial background, financial relationships, collection history and filings, and any inquiries that may have been made about your Business Credit Report.

Credit Monitoring

Similar to your personal credit score, your business credit score can alter very quickly, which explains why it is so important that you monitor your business credit. A good business credit reporting company will offer a variety of credit monitoring services to help you stay on top of what is showing on your Business Credit Report, in addition to determining if the information included is actually correct.

A good business credit reporting company will offer credit monitoring features, like picking up any major changes to your credit or any fraudulent activity, in addition to information regarding enquiries from others about your business credit report.

Identity Fraud Prevention

Identity fraud is not only a problem that concerns individuals, it is also a problem for businesses. Crucial to protecting your credit score and preventing fraud is the protection of the identity of your business . A good business credit reporting company will offer identity fraud protection services, in addition to offering a business credit report. The services might include educational materials and identity protection that will ensure your business is protected from identity fraud.

Business Solutions

The best business credit report companies are capable of providing other business solutions to financially assist your business. Such as receivables portfolio management analysis.

Help & Support

It is very important that you receive help and support when you need it, particularly when it concerns your business credit report. For starters, in order to make correct financial decisions, you need to be able to read and understand exactly what your business credit report says about your business. You should have easy access to your A business credit report company, through email, telephone and an online contact form. In addition, you should have access to pertinent resources such as educational articles, and Frequently Asked Questions.

A business credit report will assist you in making smart financial decisions, regardless of the size of your business. Simply understanding what your business credit report contains offers amazing peace of mind when applying for a business loan. Of course, additional business credit report services are extremely advantageous when they offer protection for the identity of your business and assist by monitoring your business credit.

Background on the Construction Industry

About Construction

Construction is the process of constructing a building or infrastructure. Construction differs from manufacturing in that
manufacturing typically involves mass production of similar items without a designated purchaser, while construction typically
takes place on location for a known client. Construction as an industry comprises six to nine percent of the gross domestic
product of developed countries. Construction starts with planning,design, and financing and continues until the project is
built and ready for use.

Large-scale construction requires collaboration across multiple disciplines. An architect normally manages the job, and a
construction manager, design engineer, construction engineer or project manager supervises it. For the successful execution
of a project, effective planning is essential. Those involved with the design and execution of the infrastructure in question
must consider zoning requirements, the environmental impact of the job, the successful scheduling, budgeting, construction-
site safety, availability and transportation of building materials, logistics, inconvenience to the public caused by construction
delays and bidding, etc. The largest construction projects are referred to as megaprojects.

Types of construction

In general, there are three sectors of construction: buildings, infrastructure and industrial. Building construction is usually
further divided into residential and non-residential (commercial/institutional). Infrastructure is often called heavy/highway,
heavy civil or heavy engineering. It includes large public works, dams, bridges, highways, water/wastewater and utility
distribution. Industrial includes refineries, process chemical, power generation, mills and manufacturing plants. There are
other ways to break the industry into sectors or markets.

Engineering News-Record (ENR) is a trade magazine for the construction industry. Each year, ENR compiles and reports
on data about the size of design and construction companies. They publish a list of the largest companies in the United
States (Top-40) and also a list the largest global firms (Top-250, by amount of work they are doing outside their home
country). In 2014, ENR compiled the data in nine market segments. It was divided as transportation, petroleum, buildings,
power, industrial, water, manufacturing, sewer/waste, telecom, hazardous waste plus a tenth category for other projects. In
their reporting on the Top 400, they used data on transportation, sewer, hazardous waste and water to rank firms as heavy
contractors.

The Standard Industrial Classification and the newer North American Industry Classification System have a classification
system for companies that perform or otherwise engage in construction. To recognize the differences of companies in this
sector, it is divided into three subsectors: building construction, heavy and civil engineering construction, and specialty trade
contractors. There are also categories for construction service firms (e.g., engineering, architecture) and construction
managers (firms engaged in managing construction projects without assuming direct financial responsibility for completion of
the construction project).

Building construction

Building construction is the process of adding structure to real property or construction of buildings. The majority of building
construction jobs are small renovations, such as addition of a room, or renovation of a bathroom. Often, the owner of the
property acts as laborer, paymaster, and design team for the entire project. Although building construction projects typically
include various common elements, such as design, financial, estimating and legal considerations, many projects of varying
sizes reach undesirable end results, such as structural collapse, cost overruns, and/or litigation. For this reason, those with
experience in the field make detailed plans and maintain careful oversight during the project to ensure a positive outcome.

Residential construction practices, technologies, and resources must conform to local building authority regulations and
codes of practice. Materials readily available in the area generally dictate the construction materials used (e.g. brick versus
stone, versus timber). Cost of construction on a per square meter (or per square foot) basis for houses can vary
dramatically based on site conditions, local regulations, economies of scale (custom designed homes are often more
expensive to build) and the availability of skilled tradespeople. As residential construction (as well as all other types of
construction) can generate a lot of waste, careful planning again is needed here.

Residential construction

The most popular method of residential construction in North America is wood-framed construction. Typical construction
steps for a single-family or small multi-family house are:

Develop floor plans and obtain a materials list for estimations (more recently performed with estimating software)
Obtain government building approval if necessary
Clear the building site
Survey to stake out for the foundation
Excavate the foundation and dig footers.
Pour a foundation and footers with concrete
Build the main load-bearing structure out of thick pieces of wood and possibly metal I-beams for large spans with few
supports.
Add floor and ceiling joists and install subfloor panels
Cover outer walls and roof in OSB or plywood and a water-resistive barrier.
Install roof shingles or other covering for flat roof
Cover the walls with siding, typically vinyl, wood, or brick veneer but possibly stone or other materials
Install windows
Frame interior walls with wooden 2x4s
Add internal plumbing, HVAC, electrical, and natural gas utilities
Building inspector visits if necessary to approve utilities and framing
Install insulation and interior drywall panels (cementboard for wet areas) and to complete walls and ceilings
Install bathroom fixtures
Spackle, prime, and paint interior walls and ceilings
Additional tiling on top of cementboard for wet areas, such as the bathroom and kitchen backsplash
Install final floor covering, such as floor tile, carpet, or wood flooring
Install major appliances
Unless the original owners are building the house, at this point it is typically sold or rented.

New construction techniques and sustainability

As efficiency codes have come into effect in recent years, new construction technologies and methods have emerged.
University Construction Management departments are on the cutting edge of the newest methods of construction intended
to improve efficiency, performance and reduce construction waste.

New techniques of building construction are being researched, made possible by advances in 3D printing technology. In a
form of additive building construction, similar to the additive manufacturing techniques for manufactured parts, building
printing is making it possible to flexibly construct small commercial buildings and private habitations in around 20 hours, with
built-in plumbing and electrical facilities, in one continuous build, using large 3D printers. Working versions of 3D-printing
building technology are already printing 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) of building material per hour as of January 2013, with the next-
generation printers capable of 3.5 metres (11 ft) per hour, sufficient to complete a building in a week. Dutch architect
Janjaap Ruijssenaars's performative architecture 3D-printed building is scheduled to be built in 2014.

In the current trend of sustainable construction, the recent movements of New Urbanism and New Classical Architecture
promote a sustainable approach towards construction, that appreciates and develops smart growth, architectural tradition
and classical design. This is in contrast to modernist and short-lived globally uniform architecture, as well as opposing
solitary housing estates and suburban sprawl. Both trends started in the 1980s.

The construction site may be shut down due to bad weather. Erecting scaffolded tents over the site may reduce the number
of lost work days, increasing productivity.

Design team

In the modern industrialized world, construction usually involves the translation of designs into reality. A formal design team
may be assembled to plan the physical proceedings, and to integrate those proceedings with the other parts. The design
usually consists of drawings and specifications, usually prepared by a design team including Architect, civil engineers,
mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, structural engineers, fire protection engineers, planning consultants, architectural
consultants, and archaeological consultants. The design team is most commonly employed by (i.e. in contract with) the
property owner. Under this system, once the design is completed by the design team, a number of construction companies
or construction management companies may then be asked to make a bid for the work, either based directly on the design,
or on the basis of drawings and a bill of quantities provided by a quantity surveyor. Following evaluation of bids, the owner
typically awards a contract to the most cost efficient bidder.

The modern trend in design is toward integration of previously separated specialties, especially among large firms. In the
past, architects, interior designers, engineers, developers, construction managers, and general contractors were more likely
to be entirely separate companies, even in the larger firms. Presently, a firm that is nominally an "architecture" or
"construction management" firm may have experts from all related fields as employees, or to have an associated company
that provides each necessary skill. Thus, each such firm may offer itself as "one-stop shopping" for a construction project,
from beginning to end. This is designated as a "design build" contract where the contractor is given a performance
specification and must undertake the project from design to construction, while adhering to the performance specifications.

Several project structures can assist the owner in this integration, including design-build, partnering and construction
management. In general, each of these project structures allows the owner to integrate the services of architects, interior
designers, engineers and constructors throughout design and construction. In response, many companies are growing
beyond traditional offerings of design or construction services alone and are placing more emphasis on establishing
relationships with other necessary participants through the design-build process.

The increasing complexity of construction projects creates the need for design professionals trained in all phases of the
project's life-cycle and develop an appreciation of the building as an advanced technological system requiring close
integration of many sub-systems and their individual components, including sustainability. Building engineering is an emerging
discipline that attempts to meet this new challenge.

North American Industry Classification System For Construction

The construction sector is part of the goods-producing industries supersector group.

The construction sector comprises establishments primarily engaged in the construction of buildings or engineering projects
(e.g., highways and utility systems). Establishments primarily engaged in the preparation of sites for new construction and
establishments primarily engaged in subdividing land for sale as building sites also are included in this sector.

Construction work done may include new work, additions, alterations, or maintenance and repairs. Activities of these
establishments generally are managed at a fixed place of business, but they usually perform construction activities at multiple
project sites. Production responsibilities for establishments in this sector are usually specified in (1) contracts with the
owners of construction projects (prime contracts) or (2) contracts with other construction establishments (subcontracts).

The construction of buildings subsector is part of the construction sector.

The Construction of Buildings subsector comprises establishments primarily responsible for the construction of buildings.
The work performed may include new work, additions, alterations, or maintenance and repairs. The on-site assembly of
precut, panelized, and prefabricated buildings and construction of temporary buildings are included in this subsector. Part or
all of the production work for which the establishments in this subsector have responsibility may be subcontracted to other
construction establishments—usually specialty trade contractors.

The construction of buildings subsector consists of these industry groups:

Residential Building Construction: NAICS 2361

This industry comprises establishments primarily responsible for the construction or remodeling and renovation of single-
family and multifamily residential buildings. Included in this industry are residential housing general contractors (i.e., new
construction, remodeling, or renovating existing residential structures), for-sale builders and remodelers of residential
structures, residential project construction management firms, and residential design-build firms.

Nonresidential Building Construction: NAICS 2362

This industry group comprises establishments primarily responsible for the construction (including new work, additions,
alterations, maintenance, and repairs) of nonresidential buildings. This industry group includes nonresidential general
contractors, nonresidential for-sale builders, nonresidential design-build firms, and nonresidential project construction
management firms.

About the Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction subsector

The heavy and civil engineering construction subsector is part of the construction sector.

The Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction subsector comprises establishments whose primary activity is the
construction of entire engineering projects (e.g., highways and dams), and specialty trade contractors, whose primary
activity is the production of a specific component for such projects. Specialty trade contractors in Heavy and Civil
Engineering Construction generally are performing activities that are specific to heavy and civil engineering construction
projects and are not normally performed on buildings. The work performed may include new work, additions, alterations,
or maintenance and repairs.

The heavy and civil engineering construction subsector consists of these industry groups:

Utility System Construction: NAICS 2371

This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in the construction of distribution lines and related buildings
and structures for utilities (i.e., water, sewer, petroleum, gas, power, and communication). All structures (including buildings)
that are integral parts of utility systems (e.g., storage tanks, pumping stations, power plants, and refineries) are included in
this industry group.

Land Subdivision: NAICS 2372

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in servicing land and subdividing real property into lots, for
subsequent sale to builders. Servicing of land may include excavation work for the installation of roads and utility lines. The
extent of work may vary from project to project. Land subdivision precedes building activity and the subsequent building is
often residential, but may also be commercial tracts and industrial parks. These establishments may do all the work
themselves or subcontract the work to others. Establishments that perform only the legal subdivision of land are not included
in this industry.

Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction: NAICS 2373

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in the construction of highways (including elevated), streets, roads,
airport runways, public sidewalks, or bridges. The work performed may include new work, reconstruction, rehabilitation,
and repairs. Specialty trade contractors are included in this group if they are engaged in activities primarily related to
highway, street, and bridge construction (e.g., installing guardrails on highways).

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in heavy and engineering construction projects (excluding highway,
street, bridge, and distribution line construction). The work performed may include new work, reconstruction, rehabilitation,
and repairs. Specialty trade contractors are included in this group if they are engaged in activities primarily related to
engineering construction projects (excluding highway, street, bridge, distribution line, oil and gas structure, and utilities
building and structure construction). Construction projects involving water resources (e.g., dredging and land drainage),
development of marine facilities, and projects involving open space improvement (e.g., parks and trails) are included in this
industry.

The specialty trade contractors subsector is part of the construction sector.

The Specialty Trade Contractors subsector comprises establishments whose primary activity is performing specific activities
(e.g., pouring concrete, site preparation, plumbing, painting, and electrical work) involved in building construction or other
activities that are similar for all types of construction, but that are not responsible for the entire project. The work performed
may include new work, additions, alterations, maintenance, and repairs. The production work performed by establishments
in this subsector is usually subcontracted from establishments of the general contractor type or operative builders, but
especially in remodeling and repair construction, work also may be done directly for the owner of the property. Specialty
trade contractors usually perform most of their work at the construction site, although they may have shops where they
perform prefabrication and other work. Establishments primarily engaged in preparing sites for new construction are also
included in this subsector.

The specialty trade contractors subsector consists of these industry groups:

Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors: NAICS 2381

This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in the specialty trades needed to complete the basic
structure (i.e., foundation, frame, and shell) of buildings. The work performed may include new work, additions, alterations,
maintenance, and repairs.

Building Equipment Contractors: NAICS 2382

This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in installing or servicing equipment that forms part of a
building mechanical system (e.g., electricity, water, heating, and cooling). The work performed may include new work,
additions, alterations, maintenance, and repairs. Contractors installing specialized building equipment, such as elevators,
escalators, service station equipment, and central vacuum cleaning systems are also included.

Building Finishing Contractors: NAICS 2383

This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in the specialty trades needed to finish buildings. The work
performed may include new work, additions, alterations, maintenance, and repairs.